By Bob Katzen

Sixteen percent of adults ages 18 to 64 in Massachusetts in 2016 stopped taking medications prescribed by a doctor due to the high cost of the prescriptions, according to a study by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

“While prescription drug prices continue skyrocketing, Americans are being forced to choose between filling life-saving medications or paying rent and buying food,” said AARP Massachusetts director Mike Festa. “So far in 2019, 29 states have passed 46 new laws to rein in drug prices. It’s critical that state and federal lawmakers continue this momentum to stop Rx greed.”

Several bills on reducing drug pricing and increasing transparency are pending before the Legislature’s Health Care Financing Committee.

The study can be found at: https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/info-2019/prescription-drugs-state-fact-sheets.html